DEC In Trouble Over South End

Recently, an air quality report regarding Albany's South End was released and now the Department of Environmental Conservation is receiving a lot of scrutiny. The area in reference is a spot in Albany that numerous oil tankers pass through on a daily basis causing a lot of fumes to be exposed into the air.

The Director of the Institute of Health and the Environment at SUNY Albany, Dr. Carpenter, feels the DEC is irresponsible because their report claimed the fumes to not be toxic. Meanwhile, Carpenter says that 20 of 21 air samples showed elevated levels of benzene -- a known carcinogen or cancer causing agent.